Posts by Andy Carroll

“Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2...

Our Disciple Now weekend was a success! We had sixteen students who were challenged to Renew their lives daily. A big thank you to Shane Burlison and the band for leading worship, and to Jeff Buell for speaking the truth and life of Scripture to the students....

I have received a positive response from those who have used our YouTube and Spotify playlists of “Songs We Sing at SHBC.” Please use this resource. This link to the SHBC Worship Ministry website will help you access lists of the Hymns and Praise Songs that we sing in worship. Ideally, listening to these will help you become more familiar with our songs, allow you to focus on God more clearly in worship, and also inform your personal, daily worship time with Christ....

What an amazing day of worship! In Small Group, the students studied that a commitment to Christ would naturally push us to encourage others to have a relationship with Christ. We entered worship and celebrated with Cade and Ralph as they were baptized, and Pastor Chris led us in a study of Ephesians 2:8-10. As we grow in our relationship with God, we grow in grace. When we grow in grace, as the Church, then SHBC will grow....

Happy New Year! I’m going to start featuring new songs we sing in my newsletter articles this year. The first song we will teach this year is called, “His Mercy Is More” by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa. This Sunday, as Chris begins his new sermon series, “Let’s Grow” we will recall that all of our endeavors for the Kingdom are based on His grace....

Happy New Year! 2018 is off and running and I hope you are excited to venture into this new year and see what God has in store for your life. For some of us, we did not want 2017 to end because it was a great year for us. Others of us could not wait for 2017 to be over in hopes that 2018 will be much better....

How great it’s been, for the last two Sundays, to focus on the meaning of Christmas Carols through the preaching of God’s Word! I’m so thankful to God for a Pastor who approaches weekly sermons creatively and carefully. This coming Sunday, our church family will have the opportunity to encounter and respond to Biblical truth in song for the entire service, under the leadership of our Worship Choir, Vocal Team, Worship Band, and AV Team....

I pray each of you had a great Thanksgiving with family and friends. We have so much for which to be thankful. I’m thankful for each of you, but also thankful to Pastor Chris giving me the opportunity to preach/teach....

This is a time of year that provides our church family with another opportunity to choose where our focus will be. As Thanksgiving and Christmas approach, we tend to “get back to basics” and “focus on the things that are truly important” such as “family and friends.” I suggest that this is the perfect season in the life of our church to rededicate ourselves to an outward looking focus....

Yesterday in my message I spoke briefly about the tension that sometimes exists in our hearts when we think about God’s sovereignty and His love. I was speaking about God’s power and wisdom and how He knows what is best for our lives. We know this to be true, but when we find ourselves in difficult or confusing circumstances we can quickly experience feelings of fear and frustration. It is often hard to understand how bad things happen in our lives at the hand of a God who loves us and has the power to change them, yet chooses not to do so....

This coming Sunday is Reformation Sunday. Just two days later is the 500th Anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation, which began when Martin Luther nailed a document of his top 95 (!) arguments with the way church leaders had been running things, to the door of his local church on October 31, 1517. In retrospect, this document was his own version of “I Am a Church Member.”...

Our first Youth Camp Fundraiser went well. Thanks to your generosity and appetites, we raised $600 for students going to camp. This fundraiser would not have been possible without the leadership of Andrea Frailey. She not only organized this fundraiser but also recruited parents and leaders to meet her at 7 am Sunday morning to cook. Thank you to Andrea Frailey, Meshelle Peavler, and Margaret Nyoni for giving your time to cook so early. Thank you to our students who worked hard, and to our church family for your generous gifts and fellowship during the taco lunch....

One of my favorite aspects of “I Am a Church Member” is the opportunity our Sunday morning Small Groups have to reflect upon and apply the theme from the previous week of the sermon series. As I reflect upon the overall discipleship goal of our church (that we become and build disciple-makers to the glory of God) I continue to marvel at the awesome way that small groups of 8-24 people can accomplish that mission....

Yesterday was another great day of worship at South Hills Baptist Church as we entered week two of our church-wide series “I Am a Church Member.” There has been a lot of excitement leading up to this series and now we are experiencing even more excitement as God is teaching us how to be effective, Biblical church members....

We had a great day of worship as we began the new sermon series, "I Am a Church Member." As Pastor Chris reminded us what it looks like and means to be a Church member, I felt God was talking to me....

As I shared on Sunday, I will begin a new sermon series about church membership on September 17. This sermon series will be based on the Biblical themes addressed in the book “I Am a Church Member” by Thom Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources....

It was my privilege to join with Pastor Chris in meeting with the Small Group Leaders after worship yesterday. The subject of our meeting was a new opportunity for connecting an upcoming sermon series with what we teach in our Small Groups....

Racism in any form is sin. These displays of white supremacy are satanic. There is no place for racism in Christianity or the church. We must speak out and live displaying the grace of Jesus Christ. Every race, ethnicity, and nationality are welcome at South Hills....

This summer has been exciting for the Student Ministry. God has been teaching students and leaders many things as we spend time studying His Word in venues from camp to Small Group and Bible Study in FireFall....

What an amazing journey Embrace Grace has been! Our first semester had exactly zero attendees. Though disappointing, we knew God put this dream in our hearts to continue with this ministry. The next semester, we had two lovely ladies, followed by four, then three, and now…six! Six beautiful girls will be treated to the largest baby shower we’ve ever hosted!...

What are some of your favorite gospel accounts or scripture verses that reveal Jesus’ character? Is it His interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4? Is it the way Jesus rebukes religious hypocrites in Luke 11? Is it the way He restored Peter in John 21?...

I'm so thankful we worship together every week. Sunday was exciting as we began our worship service with baptisms. I wish we could do that every week. There are four people waking up today with a new perspective and commitment to Christ....

Every Wednesday evening (with few exceptions) I have the privilege of conducting the rehearsal of our worship choir. Anywhere from 10 to 30 of us spend an hour (7:30-8:30) in the Choir Room (Rm. 100) preparing anthems and new worship songs we will lead during our weekly Sunday worship gathering and occasional special worship services. ...

We have made it to the final week of school as the month of June is around the corner. Summer is here (though the first official day is June 21st) and with summer comes a variety of emotions. Teachers and students are celebrating and rejoicing greatly with excitement. On the other hand, some parents are excited while others may not be nearly as excited for various reasons. Yet, for others summer only means hotter temperatures and less school traffic to and from work....

We are drawing closer to the close of another school year. The sounds you hear in the background are the students screaming for joy, or may be the parents scrambling to finish the summer schedules. Our schedules are full leading into the summer as the students and leaders prepare for the final push of fundraisers....

We would like to announce an exciting and dynamic restructuring of our Greeter Ministry. To begin with, it will be known as First Impressions. The mission of the First Impressions Ministry will be to connect in a positive way to all guests and members at South Hills Baptist Church....

I am so grateful for the ways that my SHBC Family has supported and partnered with me in the ministry work as Worship & Discipleship Pastor. Beyond this, though, you have supported my work as husband and father, especially through the difficult days of Theresa’s fight against colon cancer. Today, I am asking for your support in a very specific way....

Easter 2017 is just around the corner in a few short weeks! We are excited about planning a
meaningful worship experience on Good Friday evening where we will observe the Lord’s Supper and focus on the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. Then on Easter Sunday morning (April 16th) we will rejoice in the resurrection power of Jesus. Every Sunday we get to worship Jesus and celebrate how He has changed my life is exciting, but there is something extra special about worshiping together on Easter Sunday....

We have many things for which to be thankful. I am thankful for our last sermon series, "No Regrets." My prayer for us all is that we will not allow our relationship with Christ to be or become routine, we will invest in our relationships with God and others, sharing Christ as we go, and what we do is seen or filtered through Scripture....

Such an important part of growing in Christ is the investment of others in our lives. I am so thankful for the investment that my parents made in me, but I’m also very grateful that others took the time to disciple, mentor, and influence me, pointing me toward Jesus....

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
In yesterday’s sermon I referenced this verse to remind us we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to share the good news of the gospel. This verse also reminds us of the mandate we have as believers and the church to share the gospel right here in our neighborhoods, this region, state, nation, and all over the world....

Typical Texas, we have only had one week (maybe two) of winter, and here we are ramping up talk of Youth Summer Camp. The Chili Cook Off Fundraiser is Wednesday, Feb. 15. Please bring your chili and/or your appetite as we try to warm up from these “winter temps.” We will have toppings and desserts. ...

Today, I wish to recognize and express public thanks to a vital team who serves within the Worship-Arts Ministry at South Hills: our AWESOME AV Team. This team is incredibly important to the effective work of the rest of our team. In fact, every Sunday Morning at the end of our rehearsal, when our Vocal Team and Worship Band pray for the worship service, we insist that the Sound Tech and Computer Operator for the morning come to the platform to pray with us. They are an inseparable part of our team....

In my first sermon of 2017 I shared my burden for our church to engage in a renewed emphasis on prayer. Prayer is our direct line to God and if we want clarity and direction for ministry and life we must be closely connected to God through prayer. In the sermon I said “No program, personality, or purpose statement will accomplish anything worthwhile apart from surrendered prayer.” I believe our effectiveness is linked to our prayers. We had a powerful worship experience that morning as the end of my sermon became a prayer meeting with the altar full of church members calling out to God....

The first few weeks of 2017 have been great. We have been reminded of and called to prayer and reminded of needs in our community and across the United States. As we continue to focus on prayer and ministry through South Hills Baptist, I pray we live with no regrets as we serve God. We serve God through our daily jobs and as we attend school. Please continue to pray for, and look for opportunities to share the love of Christ with others. We are moving forward in our partnership with Dallas Park Elementary as we minister to the community....

Happy New Year! Most of us would agree, though days seem to drag on at times, the years fly by. 2016 was another year full of blessings and challenges for all of us. At the end of each year we can always reflect back and remember some of the incredible blessings, as well as the painful challenges we experienced....

As 2016 comes to a close, we celebrate one of the best holidays, Christmas. We were reminded through "Love Crossed Over" that God loves us and desires a relationship with us. Christ is God's gift to the world for salvation....

The Christmas season is here! It's an exciting time for all of us, but also a very busy time for most of us. Our schedules are filling up with parties, events, programs, and not to mention our work schedules. I love the Christmas season for so many reasons, but most importantly it is a chance to refocus our hearts on the person of Jesus....

This Sunday is our special worship service set aside to explore the themes of Christmas through music: Love Crossed Over. My heart behind the expression of this service is that it will reflect the multi-generational nature of our congregation. ...

I pray you all had a great Thanksgiving. It is always good to use the holiday to get together with family and friends. I am thankful my family and I had the opportunity to camp in God's creation. I am also thankful for our South Hills family, and I am thankful for the opportunity to preach last Sunday....

This year, on December 18, the Worship-Arts Ministry will present Love Crossed Over. We are including both children and students in the leadership of this worship service, in order to reflect the multi-generational nature of our congregation. Our children have not only been practicing music and drama with our many volunteers on Wednesday evenings, but they have been working on the music during SHINE....

Tomorrow is a big day in our nation as Americans will go to the polls to elect the 45th President of the United States of America. In the midst of all the election chaos, frustration, fear, and agony we often forget the incredible privilege it is to have a voice in a free country. I am thankful to have the opportunity to cast my vote for elected officials from the local level to the national level. ...

We had a great weekend at South Hills serving God and our community together. I am thankful for each of you, for the prayers, and preparation from each of you, from our Women on Mission stuffing the bags, many others donating candy, decorating trunks, watching bounce houses, cooking, passing out food, smiles, prayers, and hugs. You all made a difference for Christ....

"Then one of the elders said to me, 'Look! The Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has been victorious so that He may open the scroll and its seven seals.' Then I saw One like a slaughtered lamb standing between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders." (Revelation 5:5-6, HCSB)...

Our Disciple Now weekend was a success! We had sixteen students who were challenged to Renew their lives daily. A big thank you to Shane Burlison and the band for leading worship, and to Jeff Buell for speaking the truth and life of Scripture to the students....

What an amazing day of worship! In Small Group, the students studied that a commitment to Christ would naturally push us to encourage others to have a relationship with Christ. We entered worship and celebrated with Cade and Ralph as they were baptized, and Pastor Chris led us in a study of Ephesians 2:8-10. As we grow in our relationship with God, we grow in grace. When w...

I pray each of you had a great Thanksgiving with family and friends. We have so much for which to be thankful. I’m thankful for each of you, but also thankful to Pastor Chris giving me the opportunity to preach/teach....

Our first Youth Camp Fundraiser went well. Thanks to your generosity and appetites, we raised $600 for students going to camp. This fundraiser would not have been possible without the leadership of Andrea Frailey. She not only organized this fundraiser but also recruited parents and leaders to meet her at 7 am Sunday morning to cook. Thank you to Andrea Frailey, Meshelle P...

We had a great day of worship as we began the new sermon series, "I Am a Church Member." As Pastor Chris reminded us what it looks like and means to be a Church member, I felt God was talking to me....

This summer has been exciting for the Student Ministry. God has been teaching students and leaders many things as we spend time studying His Word in venues from camp to Small Group and Bible Study in FireFall....

I'm so thankful we worship together every week. Sunday was exciting as we began our worship service with baptisms. I wish we could do that every week. There are four people waking up today with a new perspective and commitment to Christ....

We are drawing closer to the close of another school year. The sounds you hear in the background are the students screaming for joy, or may be the parents scrambling to finish the summer schedules. Our schedules are full leading into the summer as the students and leaders prepare for the final push of fundraisers....

Youth Camp is quickly approaching (June 11-15)! We have had three fundraisers to this point, and the last fundraiser was the Car Wash. Thanks to your generosity and dirtyvehicles, the students made $730.00! There are other opportunities to support students going to Youth Camp. We have a raffle for the picnic table outside of the church ($10.00 per ticket), and the drawing ...

We have many things for which to be thankful. I am thankful for our last sermon series, "No Regrets." My prayer for us all is that we will not allow our relationship with Christ to be or become routine, we will invest in our relationships with God and others, sharing Christ as we go, and what we do is seen or filtered through Scripture....

Typical Texas, we have only had one week (maybe two) of winter, and here we are ramping up talk of Youth Summer Camp. The Chili Cook Off Fundraiser is Wednesday, Feb. 15. Please bring your chili and/or your appetite as we try to warm up from these “winter temps.” We will have toppings and desserts. ...

The first few weeks of 2017 have been great. We have been reminded of and called to prayer and reminded of needs in our community and across the United States. As we continue to focus on prayer and ministry through South Hills Baptist, I pray we live with no regrets as we serve God. We serve God through our daily jobs and as we attend school. Please continue to pray for, a...

As 2016 comes to a close, we celebrate one of the best holidays, Christmas. We were reminded through "Love Crossed Over" that God loves us and desires a relationship with us. Christ is God's gift to the world for salvation....

I pray you all had a great Thanksgiving. It is always good to use the holiday to get together with family and friends. I am thankful my family and I had the opportunity to camp in God's creation. I am also thankful for our South Hills family, and I am thankful for the opportunity to preach last Sunday....

We had a great weekend at South Hills serving God and our community together. I am thankful for each of you, for the prayers, and preparation from each of you, from our Women on Mission stuffing the bags, many others donating candy, decorating trunks, watching bounce houses, cooking, passing out food, smiles, prayers, and hugs. You all made a difference for Christ....